Reporting noise problems

The nuisance and anti-social behaviour team deal with a large number of noise complaints every year. In order to effectively deal with so many complaints effectively it is necessary for investigative procedures to be followed.

The investigation process may differ depending on the noise you are reporting or the nature of the complaint. Below gives a general outline of how our investigations may occur.

What you can expect from our investigation

Statutory Nuisance (noise)

• The person/s you are complaining about may be written to, detailing the allegations made against them and giving them the opportunity to rectify their behaviour. Please note: your details will be kept confidential.
• You will be sent log sheets to complete over a period of 2 weeks, before sending them back to us for review.
• If log sheets are not returned within 28 days, we will assume the matter is resolved and you no longer require our intervention.
• Completed log sheets will be allocated to a case officer who will review the information provided. If the information satisfies the officer that further investigation is required, they may write to the subject of your complaint again, arrange to visit you to witness the noise, or arrange to install calibrated audio recording equipment within a habitable room in your property.
• The officer will then review all the evidence obtained in order to assess whether they are of the opinion that a statutory nuisance exists.
• If there is deemed to be no statutory nuisance, we will be unable to take further action on your behalf unless the situation deteriorates.
• If the officer is satisfied that the noise amounts to a statutory nuisance, they will serve an Abatement Notice on the person responsible for the noise.
• You will be required to inform us if the problem continues and you may need to phone us at the time it is occurring in order for an officer to witness a breach of the Notice. You may need to phone our out of hours service for this purpose.
• It is an offence for the Notice to be breached.
• The person/s responsible may be prosecuted if a breach of the notice is witnessed by an authorised officer. In addition, we may apply to the Magistrates Court for a warrant to enter a premises and seize noise generating equipment.

Construction and Demolition noise

• The subject of your complaint will be written to, detailing the nature of the allegations made and informing them of the hours that we expect noisy works to be kept within. Please note: your details will be kept confidential.
• You will be required to inform us if noisy works continue outside of these times. You may also wish to phone this through to our out of hours service at the time it is occurring.
• An officer may attend out of hours if you phone us at the time it is occurring.
• If noisy works continue outside the required hours, we may serve a Notice on the person/s responsible.
• You will be required to inform us when works continue outside the recommended times, so that an officer can attend and witness a breach of the notice.
• It is an offence for the Notice to be breached.
• The person/s responsible may be prosecuted if a breach of the notice is witnessed by an authorised officer.

What we expect of you

• You are expected to provide your details and contact information. We do not accept anonymous reports.
• You are expected to provide accurate and truthful information regarding the noise you are reporting.
• You may be expected to allow an officer to enter your home to witness noise, or install calibrated audio recording equipment.

Repeat and vexatious reports

• If a report has been investigated by an officer and no enforceable nuisance or substantive issue has been established, then the case will be closed. 
• The person making the report will be informed that the case is closed and be given information on how they can take their own private nuisance action.
• If three or more complaints are raised about the same issue, by the same person/s, and on investigation no actionable concern is found, the case will be permanently closed, and we will not accept future reports about the same issue from the person making said report/s.